Ćorić: Istria County Made Step Forward in Waste Management
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Tomislav Ćorić said in Pula on Friday, after meeting with county and city authorities, that in the past ten years Istria County has made a step forward in waste management and that it is the direction the rest of Croatia should take.
"Building a county waste management centre, despite the challenges that it presented for some time, was from our perspective a huge job done by Istria County. In the past few years we have been dedicated primarily to constructing these lower parts of the infrastructure, which entails building recycling yards, financing sorting facilities, containers and lorries for special waste categories, an entire infrastructure that helps make this system successful," Ćorić told reporters, adding that "that path is challenging and will last from some time yet."
He said that he had an opportunity today to discuss the challenges facing local government in Istria in achieving waste management plans that were designed four years ago.
Ćorić said that today's talks on the functioning of the Kaštijun waste management plant, related to local government allowances, were very constructive and that he is convinced that Istria County and Pula were exemplary of how things should be.
Responding to reporters' questions about handling Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), Ćorić underscored that the government had decided to cofinance the handling of SRF from the Kaštijun area through the Environment Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund in an effort to facilitate Kaštijun's financial position as a legal entity. On the other hand, he said, the long-term plan is for the state to create premises that would be used to handle SRF.
"That is still going on to this day in several cement factories around Croatia, however that problem needs to be resolved at the state level, because in the case of cement factories we are talking about market competition which could be very expensive for waste management centres like Kaštijun or Marinščina," said Ćorić.
Conclusion on Chamber of Commerce Goes in Direction of Reforming it, Minister Says
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Ćorić said on Friday he was pleased that the epidemiological figures in Croatia had been much more favourable for a few weeks now and that he believed that the government would have the opportunity to ease the measures as of 15 February.
"What that specifically means, I cannot tell you at the moment as it will depend on the numbers in the coming days. However, I believe that our entrepreneurs, who have shown great understanding for everything that has been happening, but also protested against the fact that they have been closed for some time, will be satisfied," Ćorić said in Pula, responding to questions from the press.
He added that entrepreneurs could count on all possible support from the state for as long as they are unable to operate.
"We are talking about covering salaries on the one hand and fixed costs on the other, and there are also (credit) lines for liquidity. There are currently nearly 3,000 applications for the €50,000 COVID-19 liquidity loans," Ćorić said.
Talking about membership fees for the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Ćorić said that "the conclusion adopted by the parliamentary majority goes in the direction of reforming the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in a functional, organisational and ultimately financial way".
Parliament Adopts National Development Strategy Until 2030
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - The Croatian Parliament on Friday adopted the National Development Strategy until 2030, an overarching strategic document for national development that will provide a framework for the preparation of all local, regional and national strategies.
The strategy received 77 votes in favour, 59 against and 2 abstentions.
"We want a Croatia that by 2030 will be a competitive, innovative and safe country, with a recognisable identity and culture, a country with preserved resources, good living conditions and equal opportunities for all," Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said.
In order to achieve that vision the strategy is focused on four development areas (sustainable economy and society, strengthening their resilience to crises, a green and digital transition, and balanced regional development) as well as 13 strategic objectives and 23 impact indicators.
Parliament also endorsed the prime minister's report on European Council meetings held in 2020, with 78 votes in favour of the report.
Report on COVID activities adopted
A report on the effects of measures implemented in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic from March 2020 to mid-January this year was adopted with 77 votes in favour.
All the measures implemented were directed at protecting human health. They were proportional and did not impact anyone's basic rights, Health Minister Vili Beroš explained noting that the COVID-crisis has cost more than HRK 2.5 billion.
"We do not know what awaits us, what the new virus will bring, but so far we have responded to this threat well," he said.
A report on the work of the Public Prosecutor's Office in 2019 was also adopted.
Sabor Unanimously Declares Exclusive Economic Zone in the Adriatic
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - Parliament on Friday declared Croatia's Exclusive Economic Zone (IGP) in the Adriatic.
All 141 lawmakers who were present during the vote in the 151-seat parliament voted in favour of the IGP.
The decision to declare the IGP will enter into force eight days after being published in the Official Gazette instead of 1 February as had originally been planned.
Parliament was to have voted on the motion last Friday. However, after it was established that there wasn't a quorum, voting did not take place and hence the government proposed an amendment changing the date of the motion coming into force, which was then endorsed in the parliament.
In comparison to the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (ZERP) that was declared in 2003, the IGP means new rights for Croatia - building artificial islands and using the force of the sea, winds and currents.
Under ZERP, Croatia enjoys all the contents of the exclusive economic zone, together with the epicontinental sea, with the exception of the right to build artificial islands and the right to produce energy by using the sea, currents and winds in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
MP Hrvoje Zekanović (Sovereignists) once again today reiterated that declaring the IGP does not change anything, adding that Italian trawlers would dig in Croatia's section of the Adriatic tonight just like they did yesterday.
The only way to protect that area is to actually protect it, however in light of Andrej Plenković's non-sovereignist policy, that will not occur, said Zekanović, adding that this was just another attempt by the incumbent government to delude the public.
Australian Open Draw: Croatian Tennis Players Ready for First Grand Slam of Season
February 5, 2021 - Croatian tennis players are ready for this year's Australian Open, which begins on Monday, February 8, in Melbourne.
Gol.hr reports that the draw for the Australian Open, which begins on February 8, took place in Melbourne Park. Croatia will have four representatives in the singles competition at the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season. Borna Ćorić and Marin Čilić in the men's competition, and Petra Martić and Donna Vekić in the women's competition.
Borna Ćorić, who is the 22nd seed, will play in the first round against Argentine Guido Pella, while Marin Čilić will face a tough opponent, 18th seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. Serbian Olga Danilović will meet Petra Martić in the first round, while Donna Vekić will play against Chinese player Yafan Wang.
Ćorić played once against the 44th tennis player in the world and lost. It was 2017 in Chengdu, China.
Borna has dropped out five times in the first round in his six appearances at the Australian Open so far, and in 2019 he reached the fourth round.
Čilić and Dimitrov have played six times so far, and the Croatian tennis player leads 4-2 in victories. The last time they played was in 2019 at Roland Garros, and Dimitrov celebrated. They have already played in Australia once, but in Brisbane in 2014, where Čilić was better.
It will be Marin's 13th appearance at the Australian Open. He went the furthest in 2018 when he lost in the final to Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer in five sets.
Serbian Olga Danilović will play Petra Martić in the first round. Martić and the 20-year-old Serbian tennis player have not met so far. Martić has played in Melbourne nine times so far, and she achieved the best result in 2018, reaching the fourth round.
Donna Vekić and Yafan Wang had played once, in 2019 in Acapulco, when Wang won. Wang is currently the 96th best tennis player in the world.
The first-seed of the tournament, the eight-time winner of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, will play in the first round against the Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Rafael Nadal, the second-seed, will start against Serbian Laslo Đere.
Last year's finalist, Austrian Dominic Thiem, is the third seed of the tournament and will face Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
3.8 Magnitude Quake Recorded Near Petrinja
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was registered at 9.03 a.m. near Petrinja, Croatia's Seismological Survey said on Friday.
The intensity at the epicentre was V degrees on the EMS scale, and the quake was felt in the wider Petrinja and Sisak area.
The area was struck by a devastating magnitude 6.2 earthquake on 29 December 2020.
Croatia's Coronavirus Update: 549 News Cases, 16 Deaths, 552 Recoveries
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has conducted 5,930 coronavirus tests and 549 (10%) have returned positive, while there have been 16 deaths linked to COVID-19, the country's coronavirus crisis management team reported on Friday.
Currently, there are 2,955 active cases, including 1,203 hospitalised patients, of whom 106 are on ventilators.
Croatia's COVID-19 death toll has climbed to 5,122.
Since the outbreak of this infectious disease in Croatia in late February, 1,217,755 tests have been performed, and 234,702 persons have tested positive.
To date, 226.625 people have recovered from COVID-19, including 552 in the last 24 hours.
A total of 13.993 people are self-isolating.
2.7 Magnitude Quake Registered in North Croatia on Friday Morning
ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - A tremor measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale was registered near the northern town of Ludbreg on early Friday morning, Croatia's Seismological Survey reported.
The epicentre of the earthquake, which was registered at 0430 hours Friday, was seven kilometres south of Ludbreg.
Milanović: HGK Has Become Pointless, Mandatory Membership Fee Should Be Abolished
ZAGREB, 4 February, 2021 - President Zoran Milanović said on Thursday it made no sense any more for the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) to be funded by everyone in business who did not know what they were getting in return, adding that the mandatory monthly membership fee should be abolished.
"The mandatory fee is a parafiscal levy par excellence," he told the press.
Milanović said the HGK was "a political den," much more so than the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts which "has a certain function, although politics managed to become implanted there as well, and deeply. But it has its point, its function and use for Croatia's economy and enterprise."
He said the HGK was not an essential institution of the Croatian people and state, but a useful institution which had become useless. "Political showdowns are taking place there on a weekly basis. The election of a new HGK president after Nadan Vidošević left has turned into a political showdown."
Milanović said that he too had paid a monthly HGK fee but received nothing in return. However, he stressed, he is not for abolishing the HGK.
He agreed with the demand by the Voice of Entrepreneurs NGO for abolishing the mandatory HGK membership. He said that when he was prime minister, his cabinet failed to do so because of serious and deep problems. "That should be done right away."
Asked about yesterday's protest in Zagreb, organised by the Voice of Entrepreneurs to show dissatisfaction with how the COVID-19 crisis is being dealt with, the president said the epidemiological measures were not equal for all.
However, he added, he does not see in that "any devious scheme or conspiracy" by the national COVID response team, only inconsistent messages. "I see no evil intent in that, but it should be elaborated further".
Protests were expected
Milanović said that the protests were expected because when people give up something they demand consistency. He recalled that he had been warning from the start that restrictions must be clearly based in law and logic.
"Legally, the measures should have been passed by a two-thirds majority in parliament because this is a state of emergency," he said, adding that some people were fed up with the state of emergency and the government should talk to them.
Asked about the appointment of former deputy prime minister Martina Dalić as the president of the management board of the Podravka food company, he said that pension funds had a lot of shares in this company with an annual revenue of HRK 4.5 billion. If Podravka had not been restructured and recapitalised in July 2015, the government would now hold less than 25% and would not have such influence on the appointment of the board president.
"This is obviously a political appointment, but it does not necessarily mean that it will be a bad one. We'll see," Milanović said. He recalled that between 2012 and February 2017, when the company was led by the Social Democratic Party's Zvonimir Mršić, Podravka had doubled its stock-exchange capitalisation and increased its revenue during deflation by a quarter. He warned that in the last four years Podravka's revenue had increased by the difference in prices.
"It's a company with millions and millions in savings and our future pensioners also have expectations from it. There is also the responsibility of pension funds and pension insurance fund management companies which apparently agreed to the political demand of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. If the company grows, and it has been stagnating for years, fine, but if it does not, the question of political appointment will be raised because Martina Dalić was never in this business," the president said.
As regards the planned purchase of multi-purpose fighter jets, Milanović said he understood that a decision was delayed because of the present situation, but stressed that a decision must be made in the months ahead.
Commenting on the decision by some of the banks to withdraw from arbitration proceedings relating to the conversion of Swiss franc-denominated loans into euro loans, Milanović said he was pleased with his contribution because when he had served as prime minister his government passed the conversion law.
Asked about the shortage of coronavirus vaccine, the president expressed regret, saying that it was a problem of procurement and agreement with pharmaceutical companies.
Flights to Croatia: KLM and Air Serbia Reduce Zagreb Services
February. 5, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as KLM and Air Serbia reduce Zagreb services.
Croatian Aviation reports that KLM has temporarily suspended sales on a new, second daily flight between Zagreb and Amsterdam.
The world's oldest airline has thus suspended sales on its second daily flight between Zagreb and Amsterdam due to low demand thanks to the introduction of restrictive measures for travel between countries.
We remind you that on December 4, 2020, KLM announced the news that it would introduce a second daily flight to Zagreb, operating between the two cities from February 14, 2021, 14 times a week, with an overnight stay in Zagreb.
The new, second daily flight has been temporarily withdrawn from sale and is not available for booking, but as Croatian Aviation learns, the airline has not completely given up on this plan. KLM is expected to offer 14 weekly flights when there are no restrictive measures in place that greatly limit the possibility of travel, which is automatically maintained on the booking status.
Recall that on all flights to or via Amsterdam, it is currently necessary to have a negative PCR test and a "rapid" test, which must not be older than 4 hours before the start of the trip. For this reason, rapid testing is also possible at Zagreb Airport, given that Zagreb is currently the only Croatian airport that has a direct connection to the Dutch capital (daily flights of Croatia Airlines and KLM). Passengers pay 250 kuna for a quick test at Zagreb Airport.
Croatian Aviation also reports that the Serbian national airline Air Serbia has reduced the number of weekly flights between Belgrade and Zagreb this month.
Although the airline generally had 3 to 4 and even more weekly flights in the previous months, as of February 8, only two flights a week are available on this route.
Until the end of this month, Air Serbia will operate on the Belgrade-Zagreb-Belgrade route twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays (Monday mornings, Friday evenings) with ATR75 aircraft.
From February 8 to 28, Air Serbia will operate only six return flights, with approximately 850 seats available to passengers in both directions.
It is expected that Air Serbia will renew a larger number of routes to Croatia in the summer flight schedule, with destinations that operated even in the summer of 2020 (Dubrovnik and Split), it is possible to return routes from Belgrade to Pula and Zadar.
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